The Salem Frigate

Monument Location

Pickering Wharf

(click link for map)

essex essex

On October 28th, 1798, the citizens of Salem (under contract by the United States government) voted to “build a Frigate of 32 guns and loan the same to the government.” Later to be known as the Frigate Essex, she was constructed on Winter Island by Enos Briggs. On September 30th, 1799, she officially launched for the first time. She was later presented to Captain Edward Preble on December 22nd, 1799, thus beginning her service in the US Navy.

During her tenor, the Frigate Essex served during the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War, and the War of 1812. During the war with France, she was credited with being the first US Naval ship to cross the Equator. Her mission in 1800 was to serve as protector to US merchant ships returning from the Dutch East Indies. During the First Barbary War, the Essex saw service in the Mediterranean Sea, charged with protecting American trade and seamen from Barbary pirates. On April 27th, 1805, she participated in the Battle of Derne under the command of Captain James Barron.  

During the War of 1812, the Essex saw service in the Atlantic and Pacific under the command of Captain David Porter. She successfully decimated the British whaling fleet in the Pacific. The Essex alone captured 19 ships, two of them being the British sloop-of-war HMS Alert and the Peruvian man-of-war Nereyda. However, while in the neutral port of Valparaíso, Chile, she was trapped there by the British frigate HMS Phoebe and the sloop-of-war HMS Cherub. On March 28th, 1814, Captain Porter attempted to escape and gain the open sea. However, not being able to hold off two ships, Captain Porter surrendered the Essex to the British. The Essex would later be refitted and rebranded the HMS Essex, which saw service in the Royal Navy.

Although the ship was lost, her name and heritage was carried on when the US Navy commissioned the Aircraft Carrier USS Essex on December 31st, 1942. She was the first of 24 Essex-Class ships to be commissioned. In 26 total years of service, the USS Essex saw action in World War II and the Korean War.

The Salem Frigate monument was dedicated by the on June 20th, 1979 and is located on Pickering Wharf.